Builder&#39;s hardware



E. H. JOHNSON BUILDER S HARDWARE Filed Ja n. 23,

M1 im Patented June 9, 1931 ELVIN H. JOHNSON, F WINNETKA, ILLINOISBUILDER S HARDWARE Application filed January 28, 1930. Serial N'o.422,696.

This invention relates to builders hardware, and includes among itsobjects and advantages, the development of a compact and serviceabledoor holder of the type com- Inonly mounted on the floor, that may bemade up either semi-automatic or completly automatic in its action by aminor change in the shape of the latch only.

In the accompanying drawings:

1:) Figure 1 is a plan view of a completely automatic door holderaccording to the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

i5 Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail, illustrating the form of latch forsemi-automatic or convertible operation.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the dooris pro- 2o vided with a hook member 12 fastened in place by the woodscrews 14C.

The support 16 for the latch' 18 is mounted on the floor by means of thepedestal 20 receiving a central lag screw at 22 and se- 25 cured againstrotation by the wood screw. 24.

The latch 18 is apertured at 26 to receive the hook 12 and operates bygravity to engage and to release the hook. For this purpose the hook isprovided with a single cam surface at 28 on which the outer bail 30 ofthe latch member may ride up to permit the hook to enter and be retainedin the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

To release the parts, the door may be '3J given a slight additionaloutward displacement, which will bring the cam surface 28 against thecam surface 82, which defines the inner edge of the aperture 26 and eX-tends downward and inwardly from said 4o edge. This engagement will tossthe latch upward to a. considerable height and there will be ample timefor the door 10 to move away and carry the hook 12 beyond the reach ofthe bail 80 before the latch falls again.

The supporting plate for the hook 12 is extended downwardly at 34 toprovide a metal abutment for the end of a plunger 36 housed in the bore88 of the support 16.

50 The outward movement of the plunger is 'face 32 to hold the latch inthe position of vlimited by the enlarged head 40 and the end of the bore38, and the compression spring l2, held in place by the sealing plug 4a,resiliently urges the plunger 36 and through it the door 10 away fromthe sup- V55 port 16 as far as the positiondetermined by the end of thetravel. 0f the plunger 86 which isa position where the hook 12 iswithdrawn far enough to prevent the bail 30 from catching it. e@

In the completely automatic construction of Figures 1 and 2, the latchis provided with a heel 46 to limit its upward movement v by engagingthe surface i8 of the support 16. This surface constitutes the bottom of.G5 a housing groove completed by theside walls '50 which house andprotect the latch. The

surface 48 also functions by engagement at 52 with the continuation ofthe cam sur- Figure 2 when the hook has been withdrawn.

In the convertible o-r semi-automatic construction of Figure 8, contactat 52 is retained, but the heel i6 has been omitted from i5 the latchcasting so that the latch can be thrown over into the entirelyinoperative position indicated in dotted lines at 54. In thisconstruction it is a simple matter to proportion the parts and thestrength of the 2@ spring a2 in suoli a way that there is an amplemargin for releasing the hook by movement of the door 10 withoutthrowing the latch high enough to cause it to fallback into the positionat 54 rather than forward into operative position. However, since thebail 3() projects a trifle out of the housing defined by the walls it isan easy matter for the user to throw or kick the latch back intotheiposition 54 or forward again into operative position.

When the latch is in the position 54 the device still functions as anordinary bumper to prevent injury to the door when it is swung wideopen. i

TWithout further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention that others may, by applying knowledge current at the time ofapplication, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions ofservice. fl

I claim:

1. A support, a latch pivoted on said support, a hook for engaging saidlatch, said hook and latch having cooperating cam surfaces for liftingthe latch over the point of the hook to interlock the parts, and camsurfaces for throwing the latch clear of the hook upon further inwardmovement of the hook, said cam surfaces comprising two spaced surfaceson said latch and a single surface on said hook; said latch and supporthaving cooperating portions for holding said latch in position to beengaged by said hook, or thrown back out of the way and inoperative,said support housing all but the outer tip of said latch in bothpositions, and resilient plunger means acting generally parallel to themovement of said hook and housed in said support, and tending to pushsaid hook away from said support beyond the position for interlockingengagement with said latch.

2. A support, a latch pivoted on said support, a hook for engaging saidlatch, said latch and support having cooperating portions for holdingsaid latch in position to be engaged by said hook, or thrown back out ofthe way and inoperative, said support housing all but the outer tip ofsaid latch in both positions.

3. A support, a latch pivoted on said support, a hook for engaging saidlatch, said latch and support having cooperating portions for holdingsaid latch in position tobe engaged by said hook, or thrown back out ofvthe `way and inoperative.

l. A support, a latch pivoted on said support, a hook for engaging saidlatch, said support having'a groove housing said latch, said latchhaving portions contacting the walls of said groove to limit themovement of the latch, said portions permitting said latch tion providedwith a groove comprising side walls and a. bottom wall, a latch pivotedon said side walls and between the same, a hook for engaging said latch,said hook and latch having cooperating cam surfaces for lifting thelatch over the point of the hook to interlock the parts, and camsurfacesfor throwing the latch clear of the hook upon further inwardmovement of the hook, said cam surfaces comprising two spaced surfaceson said latch and a single surface on said hook, said latch having aportion arranged for engaging the bottom surface for holding the latchin position to be engaged by said hook, and a lug carried by said latchfor engaging the .bottom wall to limit the movement of the signature.

ELVIN H. JOHNSON.

to swing back into an inoperative position. f

5. A support, a latch pivoted on said support, a hook for engaging saidlatch, said support having a groove housing said latch, said latchhaving portions contacting a. wall of said groove to limit the movementof the latch, said portions permitting said latch to rise and engage thehook but not to swing back into an inoperative position.

6. A pedestal support having a head provided with a groove comprisingside walls and a bottom surface, a latch pivoted on said side walls andbetween the same, a hook for engaging said latch, said hook and latchhaving cooperating cam surfaces for lifting the latch over the point ofthe hook to interlock the parts, a portion of said latch engaging thebottom surface for holding the latch in position to be engaged by saidhook, and a lug carried by the latch for engaging the bottom surface forlimiting the movement of the latch.

'7. A pedestal support having a head por-

